A 35-year-old woman named Chidinma Chinenye-Agbazue has been detained by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
She was caught trying to smuggle 20 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, weighing 10.70kg, to Doha, Qatar, through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos State.
The illegal drugs were hidden in African salad, known as Abacha, and dried vegetables.
The agency carried out the operation in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS).
Allub Times learned that the anti-narcotics officers refused a N5 million bribe from another suspect in Lagos State.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi announced these events in a statement on Sunday, providing details on arrests and seizures made by the agency in the past week.
Babafemi said, “Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have detained a 35-year-old lady, Chidinma Chinenye-Agbazue after she was caught attempting to export 20 parcels of cannabis sativa weighing 10.70kg concealed in African salad popularly called Abacha and dried vegetables to Doha, Qatar through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos state.
“NDLEA officers at the Lagos airport working in partnership with men of the Department of State Services had on Thursday, March 28 intercepted Chidinma, an outbound passenger from Lagos to Doha, on Qatar Airways during clearance of passengers at the screening point of Terminal 11 of the MMIA.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that Chidinma was based in Qatar but returned to Nigeria last December for Christmas celebration. She said preparatory to her return to Doha, she was lodged at Club Dice Hotel in Ikotun area of Lagos where the consignment was handed over to her for trafficking to the Arab country.”
Babafemi also mentioned that two suspects, Monday Okeke and Chigozie Emeka, were arrested by NDLEA operatives on Tuesday, March 26 in Oniwaya, Yaba, and Agege areas of Lagos
During the arrest, the operatives recovered 842,560 pills of opioids, specifically tramadol, along with 15 liters of codeine syrup and 596 grams of Molly.
He said, “Two suspects; Monday Okeke and Chigozie Emeka were on Tuesday, March 26, arrested by NDLEA operatives in Oniwaya, Yaba and Agege area of Lagos, where they recovered from them 842,560 pills of opioids especially tramadol in addition to 15 litres of codeine syrup and 596 grams of Molly.
“Attempt by Okeke to bribe the NDLEA officers with N5m cash was rebuffed while the money was documented as part of exhibits to prosecute the suspects in court.”
